Press Release
March 5, 2021

Transcript of Senator Nancy Binay's interview on RADYO KATIPUNAN (hosted by Noel Ferrer)

Noel Ferrer (Q): Gusto mo magpabakuna pero takot ka sa injection sabi mo...

Senator Nancy Binay-Angeles (SNBA): Yes, kaya nga I will wait for Johnson&Johnson kasi single dose lang sya and for me hindi ako part ng priority group so I will just make the sacrifice. If there is a need for me to stay home longer I will just make the sacrifice.

Q: Pero 1 year na ma'am...

SNBA: Ako March 11. Kasi if you remember nagkaroon kami ni Sen. Sherwin ng exposure ,so that was March 11 (2020) nag-quarantine na ako. So ang anniversary ko ng lockdown ay March 11.

Q: How do you assess our COVID response now?

SNBA: Hanggang ngayon naghahabol pa rin tayo. We closed late. Tapos ngayon late nanaman tayo sa bakuna. Habol tayo ng habol on how we can survive this crisis. Yung sense of urgency to act parang hindi mo nakikita sa galaw. They say it pero yung actions nila parang hindi ganoon.

Q: How could we have done it better?

SNBA: Nag-hearing kami ng February (2020), pero that time, there was already a clamor na isara na natin ang but they did not do that. Ngayon with this new variant, may clamor nanaman na maging strikto sa nanggaling sa South Africa or kung saan may new variant. Today, we saw the numbers na tumaas na ang infected ng South African variant and we cannot go through another surge and another hard lockdown.

Q: ..sometimes sasabihin na tumataas ang numbers pero ang pinaguusapan natin bubuksan ang economy. Parang it doesn't make sense.

SNBA: Ang lagi kong sinasabi pag-aralan natin yung Vietnam model. Kasi yung Vietnam hindi part ng strategy nila ang vaccination program ng economy nila and they were able to control the spread in fact yung economy nila may growth pa in spite of the pandemic. So they must be doing something right na puwede nating gayahin.

Q: Could it have been more manageable if people understood what we were trying to achieve?

SNBA: Sa akin din, I keep on asking what is our new normal. And part of that new normal is to innovate. We need to find new industries or new businesses that will adapt during the pandemic. Ngayon nauuso na yung mga street, open air na kainan. We need to find ways on how to live with the virus. It will be here but we should stop the spread and at the same time, kikita pa rin tayo. Iyon yung kailangan natin na pag-aralan at i-research kung ano ang dapat nating gawin on how to survive this virus.

Q: ... last pronouncement ng President parang bantulot pa rin siya na i-open ang face-to-face learning because I guess the presentation was maramihan na agad and that was your frustration ma'am.

SNBA: Yes, kasi kumbaga ang challenge natin ngayon is how to convince the president to open up. So I told them na if that is your presentation to the President, kahit ako hindi ako papayag. Doon sa presentation may pinakita kayo na sa Quezon province pagdating sa mga teachers or nagtratrabaho sa school, sila yung highest numbers kahit sarado ang schools, siguro alisin muna natin ang Quezon province sa listahan and start with a really small sample size. Lagi ko nga sinasabi paulit-ulit, Batanes na lang muna tayo o Siquijor na madaling mama-manage, dahil I think ang latest cases nila ay zero at the moment. And ang fear ko is that the president has this perception na ang face-to-face for all but we are not asking for that. We are just asking for a small sample size na face to face so we can prepare for the next school year.

Q: Bakit hindi mabigay ang totoong picture? Paano ba?

SNBA: Hindi ko alam. I don't know how things are done inside Malacanang, how decisions are made so mahirap. Kaya kami sa Senado hanggang appeal lang...hanggang marinig.

Q: Naging controversial po kayo nung sinabi niyo sa DOTr na huwag gawing experiment ang EDSA busway. Did they listen?

SNBA: Hanggang ngayon marami pa rin tayong jeepney drivers na wala pa ring trabaho at hindi pa rin sila natutulungan. E ang kailangan natin ngayon is to create more jobs. But apparently there is a resistance to bring them back kasi that is their program na gustong i-implement despite the pandemic which is the modernization program. So, yung priorities.

Q: I will push it pa ma'am, yung dolomite sa Manila Bay sinabi niyo na hindi pinag-aralan.

SNBA: Unang-una siguro sakit na natin yun. May plano pero walang sumusunod sa plano. Ang daming plans dyan done years back na yung NEDA umabot na sa punto na gagawa sila ng plan based on one term na lang, kasi based on their experience magpaplano sila ng, let's say 50 years, hindi naman susundin nung next na nakaupo tapos ang problema pa pag magkaaway yung previous sa pumalit, ang instant na ginagawa, yung lahat ng ginagawa nung isa, erase natin para walang memory of that previous government. So, talagang wala tayong continuity. Ang importante sa Manila Bay ay malinis muna natin ang tubig and I think the dolomite won't do that.

Q: How is it now as a woman senator lalo na ngayon na second termer na kayo?

SNBA: Yung first term ko, the first three years was very difficult. Kasi I was part of the minority and since my dad was a presidential candidate, naging venue yung Senate to attack him and my family. Ang hirap kasi I was working with certain senators who were attacking us. May mga times na I would take the stairs dahil ayaw ko may makasabay sa elevator. Ang awkward na magkakasalubong kami sa hallway pero parang wala kang kasalubong. After that ok na. Yun din naman ang turo sa akin ng mga dating senators. Sabi nila, dito sa Senate, everytime na may presidential elections coming up, stressful ang environment dito kasi ang pool ng mga tatakbo, dito nanggagaling. And true enough, ganoon talaga pala.

Q: How do the Senate treat you now?

SNBA: Yung first term ang kasama ko noon is mga senior senators, and kami ni JV (Ejercito) yung mga bagito sa batch, and parang that congress mas marami ang older ones. Sabi ko nga, saying, this incoming batch of senators, mawawala na si Sen. Drilon, si SP Sotto, si Sen. Ralph Recto. E si SP Sotto he has been there since the 8th Congress. Kinukuwento nga nya na kasabay niya si Turing Tolentino. Parang kami, Tolentino (na yun) bata pa ako nakatrabaho na niya iyon. And the rules and how the parliamentary way of doing things. With this coming neophyte senators hindi ko alam kung sino yung magiging ganoon, kasi kami ng mga seatmates ko, kami yung young ones.

Q: Pero atleast ikaw wala kang outburst?

SNBA: I think common ang outburst. Ngayon lang different because of social media. Nagkukuwento sila about other congresses, nakaka-shock na habang nagi-interpolate daw may umiiyak na hindi lang nasasabi kasi walang social media back then.

Q: Let's assess the women senators kasama ka na doon. Una muna...

SNBA: Can I just add sa women senators, kami na ata ang pinakamaraming women senators.

Q: Senator Villar...

SNBA: Si Senator Cynthia sa previous congress meron kaming grupo. Yung seatmates tapos kasama namin that time si Senator Loren, Gordon and Villar. Ang tawag namin kay Senator Gordon, Papa bear; tapos si Senator Villar, naman yung mama bear. Tapos si Sen Loren yung Ate ng grupo. Pero ngayon si Senator Villar, more of a principal na sya ngayon.

Q: Senator Risa Hontiveros...

SNBA: Hindi talaga siya bumibitaw sa advocacy niya kahit she is going against the tide, fight pa din siya. Kung mag-prosper ok, kung hindi at least she tried. And ok kasi pareho pala kaming Kulasa ni Sen. Risa. Kumbaga sa upbringing, may common denominator kami.

Q: Senator Pia. Asan kayo noon nung nagbangayan sila ni Senator Risa?

SNBA: I think that is normal. Isa sa mga advice sa akin ng mga senior senators, what happens in the floor stays in the floor. Kung may issue kayo sa floor, pag nagmeryenda kayo sa lounge, parang walang nangyari kasi trabaho lang yan. Noong umpisa parang nasho-shock ako.

Q: Kasi hindi mo kayang makipagplastikan...

SNBA: But I think I had to learn that. I have to compromise sometimes. Nakuwento ko naman na to, there was one time na nag-birthday yung one time senator na naging Speaker, e meron kaming tradition na kapag may birthday, isu-suspend yung session and then you greet the birthday celebrant. So parang ako, anong gagawin ko? Parang ang weird naman na bigla akong mawawala. So, halata na parang may walk out ang peg. So, I asked Sen. Sotto and Sen. Greg, sabi nila kelangan dito sa Senate ipakita mo na hindi ka affected. Batiin mo sya. So, dahil iyon ang advice, lumapit ako sa kanya binati ko sya...nagbeso-beso kami and nag-thank you naman sya. Pero pagdating ko sa bahay yung asawa ko ang hirit sa akin: "Orocan ka na Orocan ka na!"

Q: Pero it feels good after to have done it?

SNBA: At the end of the day you need to be better than them.

Q: Sen. Grace? He was the opponent of your dad...

SNBA: Yes, pero may history din kami together. In fact when FPJ died, he was with my dad. My dad brought me to the hospital. Sasakyan ng dad ko ang nagdala sa kanya sa ospital dahil magkakasama sila at that time. And my dad was the campaign manager of FPJ when he ran for president. Ngayon si Grace bahagi na rin siya ng seatmates.

Q: ...and she is also vocal...

SNBA: I guess, kasi noong takbo namin noong 2019, more or less we were in the same boat. Hindi kami admin candidate so it gives us more leeway to be more critical.

Q: Naramdaman mo yung pagdidiin sa ibang admin candidates?

SNBA: Yes, and if you see the votes may mga areas na sobrang laglag ako. Pero kasi to begin with, hindi ko naman inexpect na dadalhin nila ako, pero hindi ko rin inexpect na it would be that bad.

Q: But it was also a liberation of sorts?

SNBA: Yes, because I can claim na I won without ano ba yun utang na loob or follow a certain line because I was part of a slate. And then sabi ko nga in a way since number 12 din ako, sa local I can move freely din na hindi ako puwedeng ano sa local politics. And plus this is my second term...so, finish term na ako.

Q: Masmahirap ba o madali ang posisyon niyo ngayon?

SNBA: Mas madali kasi di ba doon sa first term, my dad was running for president? So, kelangan guarded kasi may kapamilya ako who will run for higher office. At that time, parang everything was calculated...may ganoong ingat. But this time, wala na akong ganoon and it is my last term kasi 2 terms lang ang senator and as a senator this is it for me.

Q: Any plans to run for a higher office or a different office like senator loren?

SNBA: This is not the career path that I thought I would be in. In fact, yun ang reklamo ng mga staff ko na if may gustong mag-painterview, sinasabi ko, "bakit ako puwede ba iba na lang?"

Q: ...you were in favor for the anti-political dynasty bill, ano po yun sarili niyo or you consulted your family about it?

SNBA: Dapat din naman kasing talakayin kasi may provision sa Constitution natin na kelangan ng enabling law for that to be implemented. How can we start it kung hindi natin gagawan ng ganoong panukala?

Q: ...medyo controversial, you are still anti-divorce?

SNBA: Yes. For me we already have annulment. Ang common complaint is that expensive, anti-poor ang annulment. E baka let's just amend that. For me mas mabilis, less controversial if you just amend annulment, luwagan gawing mas madali sya. Yung usapin ng divorce very controversial and if a-amend na lang ang annulment, baka it will be more acceptable for many.

Q: ... you said no to historical revisionism; said no to the 'Marcos Day' bill. You stuck by it kahit kasama niyo si Senator Bongbong or Sen Imee?

SNBA: Yung dad ko kasi hindi nagtatanim ng sama loob. Yung first na mga napuntahan niya is the birthday of Imelda Marcos in Ilocos. I was with him so parang ang weird ng feeling na I grew up na nagra-rally sa Liwasang Bonifacio, tapos here I am nagbi-birthday party with Congresswoman Marcos nung time na iyon. Pero kasi he is always for healing ang moving on. Hindi naman sinasabi to forget, pero at some point, yung lessons learned use it to move forward. They are still there and part of our society. And sabi ko nga, you have to give it to Sen. Imee. Meron syang ugali na uma-attend sya ng hearing na sabay-sabay na minsan sa hearing namin naririnig namin yung sinasabi niya sa kabilang hearing. Ganooon siya kasipag.

Q: Pero kahit na you have a colleague na Marcos, you still said no to historical revisionism...

SNBA: We can't erase the fact na ganoon ang nangyari.

Q: How were you as a student?

SNBA: Actually ang first two years ko hindi talaga sa AIT. I started in Econ I passed Business Economics pero my mistake was nung namimili ako ng courses sa application ko, hindi ako namili kung ano ang gusto ko. Parang ang naging mindset ko ang ganda ng pangalan ng course na ito tapos quota course ito so baka hindi naman tayo makapasa kaya check ko na lang. E sinuwerte nakapasok. Siguro I realized na sa economics, puro percentage, ganoon yung konsepto di ba? Hindi ko ma-grasp masyado kasi ako what is it front of me. Yung economics is all about concepts, percentage, future effect, projections. Hindi ko ma-grasp. So, kailangan kong umalis. Hindi, pinaalis pala ako. That is the right word (laughs).

Q: Ano po realization nyo sa pag-close ng Boracay?

SNBA: Unang-una nakakalungkot kasi hanggang ngayon wala pa rin tayong national land use plan. So everything should start from that. Itong Boracay naabuso siya. Walang pag-aaral, ano ba talaga carrying capacity nya? From that experience, natuto na rin ang ibang destinations natin. Pero siguro this is already a global phenomenon kasi complaint na rin yan sa ibang international destinations. For example, Venice nasisira na ang destination sa sobrang dami ng turista.

Q: Now we are building an airport in Bulacan. Is that the right thing to do to have the private sector take care of it?

SNBA: I think there was a commitment by San Miguel na they will build it in a way na mapro-protektahan niya ang environment, maaayos niya after building it.

Q: Another one of your bills is pag umabot ka ng 100 years old, may P100,000 ka from the national government. Is that being done now?

SNBA: Yes, ginagawa na but hindi pa rin lahat nabibigyan kasi meron tayong budgetary constraint. And isa yan sa mga frustrations namin na mga senador kasi we keep on passing laws and then malalaman na lang namin na unfunded sya, so wala rin saysay kasi kung walang pondo hindi din naman maiimplement. This is an example kasi noong kakapasa niyan, hindi yan pinondohan as in "zero". Buti na lang we have the power of the purse, so, in the first year of its implementation nalagyan natin ng konting laman para kahit papaano naman may maka-avail ng program.

Q: Sa COVID response natin na-release ba sa mga tao yung budget na kelangan ibigay sa mga tao?

SNBA: Hindi pa 100%. Ang nakakalungkot medyo na-late din sila sa pag-release. For example, the other week we had a hearing with the Department of Agriculture, and yung pera na binigay namin, the full amount was just given last month. So hindi pa nila naro-roll out totally yung program.

Q: Saan po ang backlog sa pag-release ng funds?

SNBA: Yun yung titignan. Kaya pag humaharap sila sa amin, tinatanong namin nasaan na yung pondo then all of a sudden bibilis ang release.

Q: Makulit ka dyan sa bahay or kahit sa bansa (on budgeting)

SNBA: Oo, kasi limited na nga ang pera natin so we have to spend it right.

Q: Nakaka-frustrate lang na yung ayuda sabi niyo nga hindi pa naro-rollout...

SNBA: Kahit papaano, kahit hindi ako tumakbo ng local, more or less I am familiar with how things are done pag LGU ka. Siguro yun ang nakaka-frustrate pag nasa legislative department ka kasi you have technically no control doon sa implementation. You can craft it, pero it's another branch that will execute it. Ang pwede mo na lang gawin is mapaos ka ng kakakulit hanggang gumalaw sila. Pero kung bingi talaga, hindi talaga gagalaw. That is how things are.

Q: Saan daw galing ang sense of humor mo at sense of responsibility sa women?

SNBA: Baka sa mix ng genes ng mom and dad ko. Hindi naman sila may sense of humor, pero yung sense of responsibility. Or baka kasi yung situation where I was born into you have to have that sense of humor to survive it. Baka coping mechanism. Yung sense of responsibility, I got that from my mom and my dad kasi yung dad ko human rights lawyer, mom ko was a community doctor, so lumaki ako na nakikita sila yung service nila libre. Minsan manok ang binabayad sa mommy ko as a doctor. So, ganoon ang upbringing namin.

Q: Sundutin ko lang yung pagiging human rights lawyer ng dad mo, nakasama ba nya dati si Harry Roque?

SNBA: You know what's interesting? Harry Roque's mother is my dad's teacher in Pasay. Favorite student ata nya ang dad ko at that time.

Q: How do you assess him being the spokesperson of the government?

SNBA: Alam mo, love love love kami ni Harry e. But sometimes medyo nasagot ko na rin sya because of work. May time na nagte-text na ako sa kanya na pasensya na ha, I had to do it. May ganoong pasintabi. At the end of the day he was there with us when we were being punched left and right, and for that I will always be greatful to him. Nag-uusap naman kami and minsan binibigyan ko sya ng advice na minsan baka dapat ganito.

Q: If you have a direct line to him, sabihin mo mas pakalma ng mga tao kesa mag-agitate. Iyon ang mas kailangan ng tao, eh.

SNBA: Sa personality din niya, eh.

Q: Kasi whenever he talks it opens other interpretations. So parang mahirap... So, kailan nagsimula ang pagiging plantita?

SNBA: Actually, long time ago, kasi my mom loves plants. So, lumaki ako na ang gimik namin ng mommy ko, maga-attend kami ng orchid show diyan sa Quad pa dati, doon sa car park. Or pupunta kami diyan sa may, basta may orchid show, Philippine Orchid Society. So, iyon ang twice a year na gimik na pinupuntahan namin. So, that is part of my childhood. And then I met my husband, kasi ang mom ko mahilig sa halaman, mom niya mahilig din sa halaman. So iyon ang way kaya kami nagkakilalang dalawa. Kasi iyong love of plants ng moms namin. And then since ang mother-in-law ko nga I think sa Philippines ang isa na doon sa may magagandang collection ng halaman, naisip namin na, "I think we need to start this as a business." kasi nga sayang naman ang collection kung hindi namin paparamihin, and then we can sell it, right? So matagal na. I've been married 20 years so, since 20 years ago. In fact, I used to join mga horticultural society shows, and then nanalo na kami once ng booth namin, I think 3rd place yata for landscape design. So hindi pa uso ang plantita, plantita na ako. Until now I have a stall sa Salcedo Market, I sell flowers and plants. Kami iyong when you enter the entrance, kami ang nasa harapan. So, ako ang nagtitinda ng eucalyptus doon.

Q: Ang galing, ma'am. Dati kasi nakakatanda ang pagsali sa mga horticulture shows, pero ngayon "in" na kayo palagi, "in" na ulit. Is that a therapy, like you talk to your plants? Ano po ba ang kwento ng pagpaparami ninyo?

SNBA: Pagpaparami? I think mayroon talagang green thumb. I think may ganoong talent.

Q: Do you have it?

SNBA: I think isang realization 'yan this pandemic. Kasi ngayon lang ako nakapagdilig ng halaman every day, twice a day for almost one year. And in fact, I was telling my husband kanina lang umaga, alam mo, mukhang may talent talaga akong mag-alaga kasi ang ganda ng mga halaman natin. I have a roofdeck, eh, so nandoon ang mga halaman. Sabi ko, ang ganda ng mga halaman natin. Nagdilig ako kaninang umaga, ang ganda talaga.

Q: So hindi lang siya sa halaman magaling kundi pati sa pagluluto. So anong ginagawa ninyo, well, ikaw na ang nagiging plantita?

SNBA: Kaming dalawa. Well, he also likes plants. Kasi siya ang kasama ng mommy niya kapag namimili. Doon nga kami nag-meet eh, nag-meet kami sa isang orchid show. Or ikebana ba iyon, basta something to do with plants. Siya din iyong kasama ng mom niya, ako kasama ng mom ko.

Q: Knowing you are an advocate for women's rights and empowerment, how can we ensure the protection of women against exploitation and discrimination in this day and age, especially the younger ones?

SNBA: I guess it's just having the voice, 'di ba? If you're not going to say and call out this person na, sandali, you're offending me already, ang pagkababae ko medyo tinatapakan mo na. Minsan kailangan mo din sabihin kasi minsan hindi rin sila aware na they are also doing it, eh. So siguro iyon ang isang kailangan din. Our men need to get re-oriented also. Kasi nga, upbringing, ang culture natin ang mga boys ang upbringing nila they were raised to treat women like that. So, kailangan may re-orientation in general.

Q: Ma'am, based on what you wrote in your book. At a certain point nasaktan ka naman doon sa bashing, 'di ba, ng mga tao noong ginawa kang meme, pero instead of magbigay ka ng reaction, gumawa ka ng libro nga. Pero kailangan mo rin ituro sa mga anak mo na, uy hindi tama ang ginagawa nila. So how did you come to that realization na kailangan mo ring sumagot, at hindi lang palalagpasin mo kapag mayroong maling ginawa sa'yo ang tao?

SNBA: I think iyon ang dilemma ko doon sa bashing. Kasi 'di ba parang there's this one side na kapag pinatulan ko ito, matutuwa pa kasi parang pinapansin ko siya. But mayroon ding part na hindi naman pwedeng palagpasin din kasi kailangan din i-call out mo dahil paano niya malalaman na mali ang ginagawa niya. That is always my dilemma when I encounter bashing. Lalong lalo na sa social media kasi bakit mo naman papatulan iyong troll eh hindi mo nga kakilala iyan 'di ba? In fact that is one of my, isa iyon sa tip ko na pick your battles also.

Q: But you have to make your children realize na, oo, parang hindi rin ito okay sa akin. So how did you protect them also from thinking na, ay, okay lang kay mama iyong ginagawa ng iba. Nasaktan din sila for you?

SNBA: I think kung ano ang nakikita nila sa akin, parang iyon din siguro ang natututnan nila. Cite ko lang sigurong example iyong, I think that famous outfit of mine, iyong SONA outfit ko. My daughter, natawa ako sa kanya eh. Kasi 'di ba ang daming memes na lumabas. Siya pa humirit na, mom, pinaka-okay na meme is I think iyong Pokemon daw. Pokemon Princess yata iyon. Sabi niya, you know mom, kasi sa Pokemon world daw parang she has this power, ganyan. So sabi ko, I think mukhang nakukuha din niya iyong ugali ko na always, I always try to look doon sa learning, or doon sa positive side of a negative situation. Because for me there's always learning, and there's always a positive side kahit gaano kasama ang pinagdadaanan mo.

Q: At least they know how to handle ang mga ganyang bullying sa social media.

SNBA: Iyan din. I had to ask, kasi lalong lalo na when they did that hearing against my family. Araw-araw na lang yata laman kami ng balita, ng newspaper, all kinds of media nandoon kami, 'di ba. So we had to talk to my kids, lalo na iyong dalawang older ones kasi I think my twins at that time they couldn't understand it then. So like, I asked her, kunwari may situation na may lumapit sa'yo or you get bullied na parang "ang pamilya mo corrupt 'yan"...may gumanon sa'yo, anong gagawin mo? So, they said na kapag nasa mood daw, papatulan nila. Pero kung wala sa mood hindi na lang daw niya papansinin. So, sabi ko I think medyo they're going to survive kung ano man ang pinagdadaanan namin that time.

Q: And it seems like na-brief or orient n'yo naman sila nang maayos... Does your dad still have political ambitions. Will you support commuter rights bill?

SNBA: With my dad, I don't know. I don't ask.

Q: I saw that interview with Pinky Webb recently, I think it was a first after a long time. And he's keeping his options open. Pero he was talking about local politics more.

SNBA: I guess isang option sa kanya iyon. But at the end of the day, if he still feels like serving, basta kami support lang kung ano ang career path na gusto niya pang puntahan. I mean, for his age malakas pa, nakaka-20,000 steps yata siya every day.

Q: May libro siyang ilalabas?

SNBA: Yes. So kung ano man ang gusto niyang career path, we will be there to support him, whether in politics or outside.

Q: Siya ang medyo may soft spot sa kapatid n'yong mayor ng Makati. Is he helping in any way sa kapatid n'yo sa kanyang administration?

SNBA: Well my dad started kasi iyong law school sa University of Makati. So iyon, he's very passionate with that. Ang swerte yata ng mga naglo-law sa UMak kasi I think they get an allowance. Because my dad wants to produce a top 10 yata from UMak sa Bar. So iyon ang goal niya.

Q: Reaction on commuter rights bill?

SNBA: I think the bike lanes we passed already a law sa bike lanes, lalo na may pandemic. Iyong commuter rights, I haven't read it, but from the title I will be supporting it, kasi kailangan naman talaga may rights ang commuters natin. Lalong lalo na diyan sa, itong busway ng DOTr, they implemented that project, iyong mga PWDs natin cannot access kasi nga wala pang facility na elevator. Kasi it was not designed for PWDs, ang EDSA Busway, I guess for me isa iyon sa dapat maging commuter rights.

Q: Stand on charter change?

SNBA: I think there's already a consensus in the Senate that we will not be discussing this anymore in the Senate, itong charter change. Parang nagkaroon kami ng caucus kung ano ang sentimyento ng majority. Ang lumabas is, not the right time to do it, we're in a pandemic. But right now, mayroong nakasalang ngayon sa Senado, iyong retail liberalization. So, baka this is a remedy to bring in more investors to the country, na we don't need to open up, na hindi kailangan mag-charter change. Kasi ang problema namin sa Senate, interpretation of the law, iyong voting as one or voting separately. Siyempre hindi kami papayag na voting as one dahil wala na kaming boses dahil 24 lang kami compared to the House of Representatives. But mahirap na, eh, it's too risky for us to open that.

Q: Reaction on House BIll No. 7814 aiming to give more teeth to Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

SNBA: Hindi ko pa siya kasi nababasa. But I am sure kapag napasa na 'yan sa Senate, mukhang dadaan siya sa butas ng karayom. I'm sure magkakaroon ng extensive committee hearings, well hopefully, sana magkaroon ng extensive committee hearing, and I'm sure sa floor mahabang debate ang mangyayari diyan because I think sa Senate mas mabusisi kami when it comes to discussing bills.

Q: Ito pa nga, drug-related na naman during a pandemic. Reaction on PNP-PDEA mis-encounter.

SNBA: But more than that, I think, isa iyan sa problema with our law enforcement agencies, parang mayroon silang underlying turf war. If you remember iyong Mamasapano we saw that, PNP and AFP parang they didn't work together kasi parang may ganoon silang mga issues. Parang nakikita na naman natin na it's the same problem, parang hindi nila kayang mag-coordinate with each other kasi mayroon silang kani-kaniyang turf that they protect. I guess siguro magandang pag-aralan, I guess malalim din ang dahilan kung bakit may ganoon silang mga issues, 'di ba? And for as long as hindi natin nalalaman kung ano talaga ang puno't dulo ng ganyang problema, patuloy ang ganyang issue na sila-sila ang magaaway at the end of the day. Mahirap kasi pareho silang may baril, pareho silang may capability to hurt other people. Nagugulat nga ako na parang, oh my God, of all places na gagawa kayo ng entrapment, doon pa sa time of day na marami kayong puwedeng maging collateral damage.

Q: Pag-uusapan ba sa Senate pa?

SNBA: No, in fact I think si SP Sotto has a pending bill to make it clear talaga kung anong function ng PDEA in light of doon sa laban against drugs. Kasi parang from the original intent doon sa creation ng PDEA, mukhang dumami na ang naging function niya. So ngayon there's a need to I guess really set ang parameters kung ano lang talaga ang sakop niya.

Q: How to lower/prevent teenage pregnancies?

SNBA: Ito nga, I filed this resolution before the pandemic. Kasi remember kaya nga the DepEd had a program, in fact I think they started a study, kasi nakikita din nila na dumadami ang dropouts nila kasi nga nabubuntis ang mga estudyante. So the problem was already there even before the pandemic. What's worse is, during the pandemic mas lumala pa ang problema. I filed another resolution kasi may lumabas na, isipin mo 10 years old nabuntis. So lumalaki ang problema natin, and we need to address that. Hopefully, ma-hear na siya sa Senado para mapag-usapan at malaman kung ano ba talaga ang dahilan at kung ano ang pwedeng intervention na gawin natin.

Q: Baka gamitin nilang rason para hindi mag-face-to-face.

SNBA: Eh may nangyayari ngang face-to-face sa kanila kasi nakakabuntis.

Q: On resolution regarding vaccine waste management?

SNBA: Not really the LGUs but the national government. Kasi I think ang magiging medical waste caused by this vaccination program is very huge, kasi can you just imagine, ang target is 70 million Filipinos, so times 2, that's 140 million syringes, ang magiging medical waste natin on top of the vials na mako-consume natin. And nakita naman natin during the pandemic, there were instances iyong mga PPEs or even mga rapid test, hindi nadi-dispose properly. So I guess it's time to do an inventory if we really have the facility to dispose of medical waste, and if there's none, if there's a need to provide budget to build one, baka we need to do one ASAP.

Q: Kaya ikaw ma'am gusto mo na isang turok lang, Johnson&Johnson?

SNBA: Oo kaso lang nakakalungkot kasi I think si Ambassador Romuladez said na mukhang we might have a hard time procuring Johnson&Johnson kasi I think they cannot supply at the moment. But I will wait for my turn.

Q: Hindi ka mauuna kagaya ng nabalitaan nating dalawang government officials na sumingit sa mga medical frontliners.

SNBA: Hindi ako mauuna, but I think there's also a need to review na baka dapat payagan na mga mayors natin na makasama doon sa level ng mga health workers kasi sila ang ikot nang ikot. In fact sa Metro Manila pa lang ilang mayors na ang nagka-Covid, 'di ba, kasi they cannot not be seen by their constituents. And then no. 2, sila din ang best way to show and encourage everybody to get that shot, 'di ba?

Q: What's the best thing about your dad and how would a Binay presidency have turned out?

SNBA: I guess iyong love for our country. At saka iyong desire niya to, ano bang slogan niya, mapabuti ang buhay ng mga kababayan natin, because I guess, pinagdaanan niya iyon eh. Ang gusto niya is to give everybody that opportunity to rise above poverty and whatever problem. So iyong dedication niya as a public servant, na minsan nga sinasabihan na namin siya, I think naka-quota ka na in terms of public service, it's time for you to just chill and hindi mo na kailangan problemahin ang problema ng bansa because it's a burden, right? It can be a burden. And he's already at an age na dapat mag-enjoy himself. But I guess enjoyment niya din iyong magsilbi.

Q: Had it been your dad as president, how would he have handled Covid situation.

SNBA: Parang ayaw ko naman yatang magbuhat ng bangko. Siguro ia-ano ko na lang what he did for Makati when he was appointed OIC. Siguro it helps that he's married to a doctor. And my mom is a community doctor, kung naaalala n'yo 'di ba may mga puericulture center doon sa mga barangay, 'di ba? So my mom was the doctor doon sa barangay namin. So my mom, alam niya ang grassroot health concerns lalo na sa barangay level. So, nang maging mayor ang dad ko, ang una niyang sinabi sa dad ko is to build a hospital. Kailangan pagandahin mo ang health services available, you need to address that problem. So siguro kung siya ang president, baka ganoon din ang gagawin niya.

Q: He'd have listened to science more than the military?

SNBA: Yes. And, alam ko iyong pool naman ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kaniya, iyong the way he manages things, he always listens to the experts. Iyon ang style niya of governing.

Q: And you were there sa likod, to traffic everything. So you were behind your mom and dad in their public service.

SNBA: So like sa public service nila, I think ang talagang binigyan nila ng importance is health and education, iyon ang, and makikita naman natin, 'di ba, Makati is known for that.

Q: And just to give people the background, ikaw ang naglilihis, ikaw ang nasa likod nila pareho when they were serving. Did you take it, ano iyon, pinataw nila sa'yo or ginusto mo rin?

SNBA: Well iyong sa mom ko, kasi noong nag-mayor siya parang kailangan niya ng kasama na babae, kasi I guess, iba pa rin. I remember may mga few instances na nagkakasabay kami ni Pres. Cory and then lagi naman niyang kasama si Ms. Ballsy, so parang kinukwento niya na "we're in the same boat."

Q: How did you behave during the pandemic especially since your mom is a doctor?

SNBA: Kami we practice iyong "Apat Dapat." Well, technically parang we're in a bubble pa din. Like ngayon dito sa bahay namin, basically it's just the six of us. So my husband cooks, I do the laundry, my husband cleans the aircon. So kumbaga parang American living kami. And interesting. Sabi ko nga, I'm thinking of writing a narration of my experience during this pandemic. Kasi during the hard lockdown, it was just the six of us. So wala kaming maid, so natuto mga anak ko maghugas ng plato, clean their room. Interesting ang bonding namin. And then, mag-start na nga kami ng another set of birthday celebrations na lockdown pa rin. Lockdown birthday celebration. So, in my house bubble kami, bahay ng parents ko, and even din sa mga kapatid ko naka-bubble din. So ngayon, every weekend, and every dinner time, kami ang magkakasama. Just for us to have that social interaction and iyong need for our kids to have some kind of interaction doon sa mga ka-age din nila. For me, may positive side din itong Covid. Ako, I get to see, once a month I get to see my high school barkada kasi nga may Zoom. Dahil may Zoom, so iyong mga naka-migrate na sa US we fix our schedule para magkikita kami. So, parang every month it's good to go back doon sa set of friends mo, not in politics, parang totally does not care about politics. May ganoong relationship ulit. And then iyong family bonding namin is iba din. Ang extended family ko, and then kaming anim dito sa bahay.

Q: And you also manage an orphanage. Through Zoom din?

SNBA: Once in a while. But basically sina Pen na halos ang nagma-manage ng orphanage. Tapos nandiyan na lang kami kapag kailangan ng tulong ni Pen.

Q: Legislation to strengthen sports and even young professionals and prevent them leaving for other countries (context of Wesley So)

SNBA: Siyempre hindi naman natin maaalis sa kanila to better themselves outside the country. Siguro ang wish na lang natin is to encourage them to come back, or to share kung ano man ang natutunan nila while they're out there. And in fact, I think last year we passed this program, "Balik Scientist", to encourage our scientists to come back and teach here and share to the next generation kung ano man ang natutunan nila outside of the Philippines. Kasi, global na rin tayo, eh, and it would be good for us na ang mga learnings nila abroad they can share. Sana i-share. Ganiyan ang mindset sa China, eh, they send their students abroad pero parang requirement na kailangan bumalik ka at ituro mo din kung ano ang natutunan mo.

Q: Are you willing to be vaccinated in public?

SNBA: Yes, I will get vaccinated. I said nga na Johnson&Johnson ang gusto ko kasi one shot lang. I'm willing also to do it in public pero ang feeling ko baka I'm not a good role model for that, kasi I have this fear, as in talagang, 'di ba sa news pinapakita iyong mga ini-injection, parang pinapanood ko pa lang hinihimatay na ako, parang nasasaktan na ako. Kunwari magpapa-blood test lang ako, nagpapahid na ako ng Emla, and then hindi puwedeng hindi ko kasama ang asawa ko para hawakan ang kamay niya. So talagang I have this fear. Hindi ko nga alam paano ako nanganak ng tatlong beses, twins pa iyong last. I guess the psychological idea na masakit, iyon ang mas nauuna. So hindi ko alam, baka visually imbes na mag-encourage lalo silang matakot doon sa itsura ko. Iyon lang ang fear ko, baka hindi maka-encourage. But more than willing to do it in public. Baka may bagong memes ako.

Q: You were one of those nag-comfort kay Sen. de Lima. You also stood for Maria Ressa. Why so? It's so unpopular, and with this dispensation, iyong ipakita ang parang oneness mo doon sa mga taong naaapi, you make it known that you're one with them. Kasi naranasan n'yo po iyon?

SNBA: Kasi 'di ba parang pinagdaanan namin 'yon. I mean for whatever, kung may kaso talaga sa kaniya, sa akin lang we should always, I think isa doon sa problema natin, lagi nating binabaluktot ang rule of law or lagi natin tini-twist ang process to suit ang gusto nating ending, 'di ba? Kumbaga dapat diretso kung anong gagawin mo, kasi ito ang end-goal mo. I think we should stop doing that. Naranasan ko iyon, and then parang kay Sen. de Lima ganoon din, may ganoon din na nakita ako na ginagawa sa kaniya. I mean, mayroon din siyang ginawa sa family ko para magbaluktot, but I don't want her to go through the same thing. I don't want anybody to go through the same thing na pinagdaanan namin because hindi dapat ganoon. Kung ano ang tamang proseso hindi mo yan dapat baluktutin kasi may ambition or mayroon kang gustong marating. You shouldn't step on other people's toes just to reach something.

Q: How could the Senate dynamics have changed kung nandoon si Sen. de Lima? Would you have allowed her to go on Zoom with you for deliberations?

SNBA: Kasi iyong sa Zoom, that's not for us to decide, that's up to the court.

Q: Pero ang ganda siguro ng discussions ninyo kung nandoon siya?

SNBA: For a time naman naka-participate siya, at the beginning. It would be another added voice. Sabi ko nga, collegial body kami, the more na puwedeng mag-discuss on things, the more you can refine and mas maganda ang magiging output ng batas na puwede naming ilabas.

Q: What are you looking forward to after the pandemic?

SNBA: Ako, travel. Kasi we really love to travel.

Q: Going where?

SNBA: Sa Italy. International. Kasi iyon ang, before the pandemic, yearly tradition with my family na it's just us. Kasi parang feeling ko, kailangan ko mag-provide ng moment of normal way of life for my kids. And I can only do that when we're out of the country. They'll see their dad driving the car, we're not surrounded by lots of people. Kasi lalong lalo na noong VP ang dad ko, siyempre ang dami niyang bodyguard, tapos kami kailangan din may security kami. So for six years ganoon, sanay ang mga anak namin na ganoon. One time we were in the States, it was just us, biglang umambon, and then sabi ng isang anak ko, sabi niya, wow, tuwang tuwa siya na nababasa siya. So ako, why? Tapos kinukwento niya doon sa friend ko na, "you know, Tita, this is so cool. In Manila in an instant there's already an umbrella," kasi nga we're always surrounded.

Q: When do you see that happening, the travel?

SNBA: Matagal pa siguro.

Q: Realistically not this year?

SNBA: Maybe next year. But hopefully we get to travel this year kahit dito man lang sa Pilipinas. I think it's a must. It's not good for mental health din na nakakulong sila.

Q: How do you feel na may bagong paghanga especially for you and your family among the elite in Makati?

SNBA: Hindi ko alam kasi how to treat it. Well, I guess siguro thankful dahil nakikita nila kung ano talaga kami. Kasi 'di ba during that period, nalulunod ang tunay naming pagkatao doon sa how we were portrayed and vilified in media. But alam namin na we were not like that and we just stayed true to ourselves. At least ngayon nakikita nila na ganoon talaga kami. I-kwento ko lang, there was one time after we voted doon sa presidential elections. May media na assigned sa amin, and then after kami mag-vote, we went to our house, then all of a sudden she started crying kasi pinakain namin sila sa bahay, in-entertain. So, parang she started crying, sinasabi niya na "nagi-guilty ako kasi isa ako sa talagang galit na galit doon sa pamilya n'yo kasi nga ganito how you were portrayed, but ngayon nakikita ko na hindi kayo ganoon, ang layo." Tapos sabi ko, ganito lang talaga kami, and she said na "bakit wala kayong ginawa to prove them all wrong?" I told them na kahit anong gawa namin during that time, parang hindi talaga kami pakikinggan. And true enough, eventually the truth will come out and the truth will set us free and validate kung ano talaga kami.

Q: Noong pinag-uusapan ang franchise ng ABS-CBN sinabi mo na they may have wronged your family but you're still espousing press freedom. So you value that still?

SNBA: I guess isa 'yan doon sa na-instill din ng parents ko, na at the end of the day, bayan muna always bago sarili. That's how I was brought up. I saw my dad willing to die for our country, so ganoon ka-selfless ang konsepto nila ng service na medyo nakakalungkot kasi I think that generation medyo dying breed na. Magsalita nga lang ang daming natatakot. So I think maybe it's something that we need to plant more in the next generation.

Q: So you see yourself fighting for ABS-CBN's being on air again?

SNBA: Yes. Alam mo, nakakatuwa nga kasi last day namin, March 11 (2020). I went to work kasi ibibigay namin ang resolution namin sa NTC. Kasi 'di ba nag-issue na sila ng cease and desist order and I think the Senate passed a resolution for NTC granting ABS-CBN a provisional permit to operate. March 11 iyon, may picture-taking pa kami with the NTC commissioner and the other senators, and then I guess the rest is history.

Q: But you see ABS-CBN coming back?

SNBA: Hopefully. I guess kaya nga your vote, our vote for 2022 is very important. And siguro, sabihin ko lang, going doon sa election, I think ang audience mo ngayon are students, 'di ba. Based doon sa data ng Comelec, the young ones are not going out there to register. You cannot vote if you don't register, 'di ba? And your voice will not be heard if you don't register.

Q: How do you envision private life after politics?

SNBA: Actually before politics, we were really planning to go into the plant business. Talagang may pagka-plantita. Kasi nga 'di ba ang mother in law ko mayroon siyang mga mother plants, there's something that we could already start with. So iyon talaga iyong parang gusto ko na gawing livelihood ang pagiging plantita. Aside from being plantita, I guess I'll help more din with our orphanage.

Q: What's a good plant to start with for someone interested in starting a garden?

SNBA: I think siguro sa akin bougainvillea. You don't need to water it every day kasi ayaw na niya na dinidiligan siya, tapos kapag nag-flower siya sobrang ganda. And there's a lot of varieties. May bonsai, and then parang year-round ang flowers.

Q: Are we ready for another woman president?

SNBA: I think nga, nakakadalawa na tayo, 'di ba. Daig pa natin ang America. You know, sa akin it's not the gender, eh. Pwedeng lalake o babae, but at the end of the day, kaya dapat ang presidency has no gender bias. It can be any, basta for as long as they can serve and ang interest pa rin ng nakakarami ang guiding principle nila.

Q: But if you see the countries that are ruled by women now, performed daw better during this pandemic.

SNBA: Ah kasi parang may ano yata 'yan, eh. May study na in other countries, ang mga women leaders mas na-address nila ang spread ng Covid. I guess siguro may advantage, kasi 'di ba, babalik ako sa experience mo sa bahay, kunwari if you're a mother. Kumbaga parang you just treat the country as your household, 'di ba? Na kunwari nagkaroon ng sakit ang anak, kapag nilagnat 'yon siyempre hindi mo naman isasama ang anak na 'yon sa ibang anak na walang sakit. Kasi 'pag sinama mo 'yon, mahahawa sila, magkakasakit na ang iba. You isolate the one who is sick. Basically ganoon ang kailangan ginawa natin sa pandemic, sa Covid, which we didn't do fast enough.

Q: At mas sanay mag-multitask ang mga nanay. Anyway are we ready for a woman president and vice president?

SNBA: Iyon na nga, eh. I would go back doon sa kung iyong babae na presidente can deliver, can take us out of this problem, bakit hindi 'di ba?

News Latest News Feed